Apply For A Start-up Visa

The Start-Up Visa is an ideal visa category for new entrepreneurs who wish to set up a business in the UK for the first time.

About the Start-Up Visa

With the entrepreneur visa no longer being available, the Start-Up Visa offers business people the opportunity to gain access to the UK and begin a path towards settlement through the Innovator Visa once they have been based in the UK for three years. The next steps would be to then apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain and potentially British Citizenship later down the road.

Start-Up Visa requirements

There are numerous requirements in order to obtain a Start-Up Visa, depending on your personal and business circumstances.

It is important to make sure that you have met all of the requirements before applying for a Start-Up Visa as a well-presented case that highlights that you meet all key requirements is much more likely to be accepted in a timely manner.

Working alongside a legal team like QC immigration will help you put together and present a strong case.

The following are some key requirements:

  • You must be at least 18 years old.
  • You must meet the English language requirement.
  • You need to show that you have sufficient personal savings to support yourself while you are in the UK. In particular, you need to prove that you have had at least £1270, plus £630 for each dependant in your bank account for 90 consecutive days prior to the application.
  • You must not have been in breach of immigration laws, except for any period of overstaying allowed under the Immigration Rules.
  • You must not have previously established a business in the UK.
  • Your business must be innovative, viable and scalable.
  • Your business or your business idea must be assessed and endorsed by an authorised endorsing body.

As a QC Immigration client, you will benefit from a detailed document list, document checks, a thorough guide for any interview and ongoing advice to help you meet the above-mentioned requirements.

Applying for a Start-Up Visa

You need to apply online for a Start-Up Visa via the Home Office website. How you apply will depend whether you are applying from outside the UK or switching from another visa.

You will be required to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre in order to obtain a biometric residence permit as part of your application. Thereafter, you will have to collect your biometric residence permit within 10 days of when you initially stated that you would arrive in the UK. The cost for fingerprinting and photographs is approximately £19.20.

Settling after a Start-Up Visa

You cannot apply for any permanent settlement schemes through the Start-Up Visa, there are, however, ways in which you can work towards settlement while on a Start-Up Visa.

You may apply to switch to an Innovator Visa and after three years of continually residing in the UK on an Innovator visa, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

How QC Immigration can help with your Start-Up Visa

Our team of experienced legal professionals will be able to help you build a strong case with all the relevant documentation handled and submitted in an efficient and timely manner which will give your visa application a greater chance of being accepted. We can also provide recommendations for Endorsing Bodies that our clients have successfully secured endorsements from.

If you would like to learn more about how we can help you with a Start-Up Visa application, you can contact a member of the team; please call 0203 637 8633 or email info@qc-immigration.com today. Our fee is fixed and affordable.

Have a questions?

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How we work

1
consultation.

We start a discussion by understanding your history, and we will clearly outline the best option available and any recommendations to save you time and costs.

2
instruction.

Once you instruct us to be your legal representative, we will start preparing your case. We may require more information about you to help you more effectively.

3
documents.

Documentation is a crucial part of an immigration application. We will customise a document list to guide your preparation. Your dedicated lawyer will check the documents and advise of any improvements needed.

4
application.

We will complete your application to the Home Office and may also write a cover letter with strong legal arguments where relevant. We may discuss this with you to confirm the final details.

5
submission.

We will submit your application to the Home Office, Court authorities securely. We will represent you as the main point of contact with them for any further requests.

6
interview.

You may sometimes be invited to attend a Home Office interview or Court hearing. While this may sound daunting, we will help you prepare and provide guidance on what questions to expect.

7
decision.

As soon as we receive a decision from the Home Office, we will get in touch with you to share the news.

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What clients say

We did multiple assignments with QC and were very happy with the fast response and results we achieved on our applications.

manish rungta
manish rungta
Google five star client rating

Qiyin was very quick to respond to my inquiries. She was very professional, supportive and helpful. Highly recommended!

Ainul Nadhirah Hanafiah
Ainul Nadhirah Hanafiah
Google five star client rating

Qiyin listened very attentively to my concerns and reassured me. Gave me a lot of insight into how I need to plan my application in a very personal way. Would definitely highly recommend.

Sashi Ganes
Sashi Ganes
Google five star client rating

Very professional team, who helped me gain EU Settled status pre-Brexit using a new Android app. It is refreshing to see that QC-immigration team adopts fast the technology and is on top of all changes in legislation. They got my full trust.

Victoria Rusnac
Victoria Rusnac
Google five star client rating

Hafsah made my application look so simple and easy even though i was doubtful about my case before approaching QC. I can’t believe my ILR application got approved by Home office within 24 hrs of biometric appointment. Thank you Hafsah for helping me get this done.

Shubha Shet
Shubha Shet
Google five star client rating

It was a pleasure working with Qiyin and her team. They were very helpful and responsive all the time. They helped me with my Permanent Residence which was succesful and was received in less than a month. I will work with them again in the future, so I strongly recommend this Immigration office to everyone.

Nasos Balasis
Nasos Balasis
Google five star client rating

Definitely the best law firm I've ever dealt with. Hafsah Awan is an amazing lawyer, she is extremely professional, she truly cares, and gives great advise to ensure all goes smoothly. My entire process with Hafsah went really well, and we successfully got our Start-up visas to the UK, many thanks to Hafsah for her great efforts. I also loved that they are very responsive, to emails, calls, etc. Qiyin Chuah, the founder, actually helped me in the last moment during her weekend, I was very thankful for that, as not many people would even get back to you during the weekend. Overall, an amazing law firm, I'm very pleased, and I truly wish Hafsah, Qiyin, and the rest of QC Immigration team all the best, God bless you all :)

Ahmad Agha
Ahmad Agha
Google five star client rating

I had an exploratory conversation with QC Immigration. Qiyin was professional and personable throughout our conversation, explaining clearly the current criteria and regulatory considerations to keep in mind. I would have no reservations in appointing them for representation should there ever be a need, as Qiyin provided from the outset, the calm assurance of having the knowledge, experience and an individual approach that I strongly value.

May Loke
May Loke
Google five star client rating

Very good service and professional company! I contact them trough a friend because I had problem with a Family Visa in Scotland, they helped me and advised in all the process and they solved what I needed to solve so quick. Specially Qiyin and Marianna. I would always come back to them again if I needed and also recommend them. As I said, very good and Professional.

Martin Nicolas Camaño Martin
Martin Nicolas Camaño Martin
Google five star client rating

Both my fiancé and I used QC Immigration this year for our new visa and naturalisation applications, respectively, and were very happy with the service. Our main point of contact was Marianna, who was very prompt and thorough in her preparation of our applications and helpful throughout every step of the process with our concerns, etc. Highly recommend QC Immigration. Thank you again, Marianna!

Sarah Monaco
Sarah Monaco
Google five star client rating

My friend had recommended QC Immigration and I was not disappointed! Marianna was my main point of contact and she was kind, prompt and very efficient. I had a lot of questions and Marianna was very quick in replying to me. I would definitely recommend QC Immigration.

Malulie Tongprasert
Malulie Tongprasert
Google five star client rating

They were extremely professional and thorough throughout the application process. I even shared my travel plans and they worked based on my timelines, which based on experience, most companies don't prioritise. Highly recommend working with them if you want to be stress free and want your application handled with care.

Shruthi Padmanabhan
Shruthi Padmanabhan
Google five star client rating

I have been using QC Immigration to help prepare for my partner's Proposed Civil Partnership Visa application. We have been dealing with Marianna since January, and have found her to be extremely professional, knowledgeable and personable. She has always responded to my queries and concerns, (however neurotic!) and she has paid great attention to detail. It has been an invaluable service, and should our application be successful in this instance, I will not hesitate to appoint QC Immigration again to assist with the next stages. Many thanks again for your hard work and for showing us such an understanding and caring attitude! :)

Bethany Taylor-James
Bethany Taylor-James
Google five star client rating

My partner and I recently used QC Immigration when applying for a UK partner visa. They were very professional throughout and dealt with all questions and queries accordingly. Marianna was our main point of contact and was extremely diligent and reassuring throughout the process. We appreciated their attention to detail and extensive knowledge of UK immigration law and would highly recommend them to any prospective clients.

Eliot Parker
Eliot Parker
Google five star client rating

FAQ

How early can I apply for a Start-Up Visa?

The earliest you can apply for a Start-Up Visa is 3 months prior to travelling to the UK.

Can I switch to a Start-Up Visa if I am in the UK on another visa?

You may be able to switch to a Start-Up Visa if you meet the eligibility requirements. As the rules have been relaxed, most people can switch as long as your current visa status is not: as a Visitor; oras a short-term student; oras a parent of a child student; oras a seasonal worker; oras a domestic worker in a private household; oroutside the Immigration Rules.

Can I bring my family members with me to the UK if I am on a Start-Up Visa?

You can bring your family members (‘dependants’) with you, namely your husband, wife or partner and children under 18. Importantly, they must apply for the relevant Dependent Visas.

Will I be able to join or take over existing businesses?

You may establish a new and innovative UK business only. If you wish to join or take over an existing UK business, other visa categories are available such as: Tier 1 (Investor) VisaSkilled Worker VisaSole Representative of an Overseas Business Visa

How long does it take to get a decision on a Start-Up Visa?

A decision on a Start-Up Visa can take up to 3 weeks if you’re outside the UK and up to 8 weeks if you’re in the UK. You can check the Home Office guide processing times to find out how long obtaining a visa might take in your country. These times may prove to be longer as a result of the Covid19 pandemic which has slowed down the overall process. If you wish to receive a decision quicker, our team can help you with Priority services where available. The best way to ensure that the process is quicker on your end is by putting together a clear and convincing application and supply all key documentation on time.

How much does a Start-Up Visa cost?

The cost of a Start-Up Visa is £378 per applicant and £508 if you are switching to this visa. You may have to include additional costs such as the healthcare surcharge and the cost of having biometrics taken.

Do I need to be the sole founder of the business in order to qualify for a Start-Up Visa?

You do not need to be the sole founder of the business in order to be eligible for a Start-Up Visa. You can apply as a member of an entrepreneurial team. Nevertheless, each member of the Start-up team must be issued their own individual endorsement and meet all the other requirements.

How long can I stay on a Start-Up Visa?

The Start-Up Visa allows you to remain in the UK for up to two years.

What happens if my endorsing body loses or withdraws its status?

If an endorsement has been withdrawn or the endorsing body loses its status, the Home Office will consider curtailing the leave of any start-up migrants or innovators it had endorsed. They may do so with immediate effect, or to allow you to retain part of the remaining duration of their visa, or not to curtail your leave at all. If your leave is curtailed, you would need to secure a fresh endorsement from a new Endorsing Body.

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